Court Sentences Man To 20 Years In Prison Over Concealment Of Bandit’s Information

According to Ireporter Online, Justice Emeka Nwite convicted Sani after finding him guilty of withholding details relating to the activities and whereabouts of Danranmi, who is alleged to be a major supplier of arms and ammunition to kidnapping and bandit groups operating in parts of Nigeria.

Sani was prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) over terrorism-related offences after his arrest on January 11, 2023.

In delivering judgment, Justice Nwite sentenced the defendant to 20 years imprisonment on the first and second counts of the charge, with no option of a fine. However, the court ruled that both sentences would run concurrently, meaning Sani will spend a total of 20 years in prison instead of 40 years.

The judge also ordered that the sentence should take effect from the date of Sani’s arrest and detention.

The DSS had earlier filed four terrorism-related charges against Sani, accusing him of deliberately withholding information that could have helped security agencies track and apprehend Danranmi despite allegedly being aware of the suspect’s criminal activities.

The offence was said to contravene provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, specifically Section 26(1), and punishable under Section 16(1)(b) of the same law.

The court eventually convicted Sani on two of the four counts and ordered that he be committed to prison for his role in concealing information linked to the alleged activities of the suspected bandit.